Front-delivery mechanism for printing-machines.



No. 687,279. Patented Nov. 26; I90I.

* W. SPALCKHAVER.

FRONT DELIVERY MECHANISM FOR PRINTING MACHINES.

(Application filed Jan. 21, 1901.)

2 Sheets-SheeI I.

(No Model.)

Patented Nov. 26, I901. W. SPALCKHAVER. 1

FRONT DELIVERY MECHANISM FOB'PRINTING MACHINES.

(Application filed Jan. 21. 1901.)

2 Sheets- Sheet 2.

(No Model.

THE Noam PETERS cov PNOTOUTHQ, WASHINGTGN. 0. c1

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM SPALOKHAVER, on NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNORTO ROBERT non, on NEW YORK, N. Y.

FRONT-DELIVERY MECHANISM FOR PRINTING-MACHINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent NO. 687,279, dated November 26, 1901. Application filed January 21, 1901. Serial No. 43,984. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM SPALOKHA- VER, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, county of Kings, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Front-Delivery Mechanism for Printing-ll/Iachines, fully described and represented in the following specification and the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the same.

This invention relates to certain improvementsin printing-machines, and has for its object to produce an improved mechanism by which a front delivery may be employed in connection with a single-revolution ordrumcylinder printing-machine.

With this and other objects in view the invention consists in certain constructions and in certain parts, improvements, and combinations, as will be hereinafter fully described and then specifically pointed out in the claims hereunto appended.

In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, and in which like characters of reference indicate the same parts, Figure 1 represents a sectional side elevation of so much of a printing-machine as is necessary to an understanding of the invention. Fig. 2 isa plan View of the construction illustrated in Fig. lwith certain parts removed. Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but showing the parts in a different position.

The machine which has beenv selected to illustrate the invention is a drum-cylinder machine of the bed-and-oylinder type. The frame of this machine, which may be of any usual or desired construction, is marked 1 and is provided with the usual standards in which the cylinder-shaft 2 is mounted. The cylinder 8 is provided with a sheet-carrying surface 4, which in this instance is the impression-surface, and-is also provided with anothersurface 5, which occupies the remainder of the cylinder, exclusive of the grippergaps hereinafter referred to, and which in the present embodiment of the invention is utilized as a sheet-supporting surface. In the construction shown this surface 5 of'the cylinder is made lower than the impressionsurface, so that it may not touch the form 6 side of the impression-cylinder is not, however, essential, as the cylinder might be raised and lowered, or, under some circumstances, this side might be omitted altogether. As has been stated, the cooperating member of the printing-couple is a reciprocating bed, though it is obvious that any other form of cooperating member might be substituted tl1erefor-as, for instance, a cylinder.

The front-delivery mechanism employed may be of any suitable form. In the construction shown such a delivery mechanism is indicated by tapes 8, which pass over supporting-pulleys 9, said mechanism also being provided with a movable switch or bridge 10. This switch 10 is mounted on a rock-shaft 11, which is or may be mounted in the side frames of the'machine, said shaft having an arm 12 secured'thereto to which is connected a rod 13, extending down to a cam on the ordinary way cam-shaft. (Not shown.) Inasmuch as the particular form of front-delivery mechanism is not material to the invention it has not been fully illustrated.

Suitable means for presenting a sheet to the cylinder will be employed. This means may be va'riedwidely in construction. As shown, it consists of a feed-board having a pivoted flap 14, which will preferably be raised and lowered in an ordinary manner. As shown, it is raised and lowered through the agency ofa lifter 16, mounted on a shaft 17, suitablyjournaled in the machine. This shaft has connected to it an arm 18, to which is seway cam-shaft (not shown) before referred to. Suitable means are also employed to take the sheet from the sheet-presenting means and retain it in position on the impressionsurfaceduringthe printingoperation. These means may be varied widelyin construction.

carrier is employed, consisting of a pair of teeth 21 on the cylinder, the sprocket-chains being thus supported and driven by the cylinder. The sprocket-chains are also supported by a cylinder 22, provided with suitable the chains, said cylinder 22 being suitably on the bed 7 as the same returns. This low In the form shown, however, a flexible sheetsprocket-chains 20, which engage suitable,

cured a rod 19, extending downward to the teeth 23, which are engaged by the links of mounted in the frame at the rear of the cylinder of the couple, as shown.

The sheet -taking devices employed will preferably consist of grippers, and in the present instance three such sets of grippers are employed, although the number might be varied, if desired. Each set of grippers consists of a stationary lower jaw formed by a bar 2t, suitably supported in the chains, and a set of fingers 25, mounted on a shaft 26, the bearings for which are carried by the chains. The grippers are held closed by a spring-rod 27, one end of which is connected to an arm on the gripper-shaft in the usual manner and the other end of which is mounted in a loop 28, secured to one of the chains. The shaft of the gripper-fingers is provided with the usual tumbler-block 29. The cylinder of the printing-couple is provided with the usual gripper-gaps 30 and 31, which permit the grippers to be properly positioned with relation to the surfaces with which they cooperate.

\Vith the construction so far described and assuming that the machine is just starting up the first set of grippers takes a sheet from the feed-board, the grippers being at this time so positioned in the gripper-gap 30 (see Fig. 1) that the sheet will fall properly on the impression-surface t and be presented while held thereon to the cooperating member of the couple. After the sheet is printed it is carried around the cylinder 22, which will preferably be provided with a gap, into which the grippers as they pass will fall, so that the carrier may run evenly. As the firstset of grippers begins to leave the cylinder of the couple the second set of grippers will register with the gap 31 and will pass the sheettakingandsheet-deliverypoints. Inasmuch, however, as this set of grippers at this time is cooperating with the low side of the cylinder, it will not be operated to take a sheet. As the cylinder of the couple continues its revolution the third set of grippers will drop into the opening 30 and will be in a position to cooperate with the impression-surface of the cylinder. These grippers will therefore operate to take a sheet which will be laid upon the impression surface, as before. When, however, this third set of grippers holding the sheet reaches in the revolution of the cylinder the printing-point, the first set of grippers will drop into the opening 30 and come to the sheet-delivery point. At this time these grippers will be opened and, the switch 10 being dropped, the sheet will be delivered to the front-delivery mechanism, a suitable roller 32 being preferably employed, which, in connection with the low side of the cylinder, operates to feed the sheet off onto the tapes of the front-delivery mechanism.

' As the sheet passes under the feed-board the same will be raised by its, operating mechanism. The position of the parts when the first set of grippers is delivering its sheet is clearly shown in Fig. 3. In the subsequent operation of the machine, the first set of grippers having delivered its sheet passes on and the set behind it takes a sheet. Each set of grippers, therefore, takes a sheet, retains it until it is printed and delivered, and then passes on empty and takes a sheet when it next passes the end of the feed-board. \Vith this operation of the machine it is necessary, therefore, to provide a mechanism which shall operate the grippers, so that each set as it passes the feed-board on one revolution of the carrier shall take a sheet, the grippers remaining closed when they next pass the edge of the feed-board, but being opened when they reach the sheet'delivery point,which,as usual, is slightly in advance of the sheet-taking point.

The gripper-operating mechanism may be widely varied in construction. Preferably, however, it will consist of pins 33 and 34, the pin 33 operating in connection with the tumbler-block 29 to close the grippers, so that they will take a sheet from the feed-board, and the pin 3& operating in connection with said tumbler-block to open the grippers, so that they will deliver the sheet to the frontdelivery mechanism. In the construction shown these pins 33 34 are operated from a rocking lever 35, the ends of which engage the pins in any suitable manner, said lever being mounted on a rock-shaft 36, mounted in suitable bearings 37 on the side of the main frame. The shaft 36 is provided with an arm 38, suitably secured thereto, said arm engaging a cam 39, mounted on the end of the cylinder-shaft 2, said cam being so constructed as to rock the shaft 36 and cause the pins to be thrown into and out of the path of the tumbler-blocks on the gripper-shaft once for each revolution of the cylinder.

Suitable means are preferably provided for supporting the sheet as it passes on the under side of the chains from the cylinder of the couple to the cylinder 22. As shown, these means consist of tapes 40, supported on pulleys 41; but any other supporting means may be substituted therefor. Similarly supporting means is'preferably provided for holding the sheet up as it passes from the cylinder 22 to the cylinder of the couple. As shown, these means consist of a set of supportingfingers 42, mounted on a rod 4-3, suitably supported in the frame, although any other supporting means may be used, or in some cases these means may be dispensed with.

The operation of the mechanism will be clear from the description heretofore given.

While the mechanism heretofore described constitutes a preferred form of carrying the invention into effect, it is to be understood that the invention is not to belimited thereto, and it is to be further understood thatcertain features of the invention are capable of use independently of other features and that such use is contemplated.

\Vhat is claimed is- 1. The combination with a printing-couple, of a front-delivery mechanism, and a sheet- IIO . the front-delivery carrier which is independent of the members of the couple, said carrier operating to remove the sheet from the impression-surface after printing and deliver it to the front-(lelivery mechanism,substantially as described.

2. The combination with a printing-couple comprising a single-revolution cylinder having an impression-surface and a cooperating member, of a front-delivery mechanism and a sheet-carrier operating to remove the sheet from the impression-surface after printing and deliver it to the front-delivery mechanism, substantially as described.

3. The combination witha printing-couple comprising a cylinder having an impressionsurface, and a cooperating member,of a frontdelivery mechanism, and a sheet carrier which is independent of the members of the couple, said carrier operating to remove the sheet from the impression-surface after printing and deliver it tothe front-delivery mechanism, said carrier operating to deliver the sheet while that part of the cylinder which is not occupied by the impression-surface is passing the front-delivery mechanism, substantially as described.

4. The combination with a printing-couple comprising a single-revolution cylinder having an impression-surface and a cooperating member, of a front-delivery mechanism, and a sheet-carrier operating to remove the sheet from the impression-s11 rface after printing and deliver it to the front-delivery mechanism, said carrier operating to deliver the sheet while that part of the cylinder which is not occupied by the impression-surfaceis passing mechanism, substantially as described.

5. The combination with a printing-couple comprising a single-revolution cylinder having an impression-surface, and a cooperating member, of a front-delivery mechanism, a sheet-carrier operating to take a sheet from the impression-surface and deliver it to the front-delivery mechanism, the sheet during the delivery operation being supported upon that part of the cylinder which is not occupied by the impression-surface, substantially as described.

6. The combination with a printing-couple, of means for presenting a sheet to the couple to be printed, a sheet-carrier operating to take the sheet from the presenting means, said sheet as it is forwarded by the carrier resting upon the impression-surface of one member of the couple, a front-delivery mechanism, and means for causing the carrier after the sheet is printed to deliver it to the front-delivery mechanism, substantiaily as described.

7. The combination with a printing-couple comprising a single-revolution cylinder having an impression-surface and a cooperating member, of means for presenting a sheet to the cylinder to be printed, a sheet-carrier operating to take the sheet from the presenting means, said sheet as it is forwarded by the carrier resting upon the impression-surface,

a front-delivery mechanism, and means for causing the carrier after the sheet is printed to deliver it to the fron t-delivery mechanism, substantially as described.

8. The combination with a printing-couple comprising a single-revolution cylinder having an impression-surface and a cooperating member, of means for presenting a sheet to the cylinder to be printed, a sheet-carrier operating to take the sheet from the presenting means, said sheet as it is forwardedrby the carrier resting upon the impression-surface, a front-delivery mechanism, and means for causing the carrier after the sheet is printed to deliver it to the front-delivery mechanism, said sheet during the delivery operation resting upon that part of the surface of the cylinder which is not occupied by the impression-surface, substantially as described.

9. The combination with a printing-couple, of a sheet-carrier provided with grippers, means for delivering a sheet to be printedto the carrier,a front-delivery mechanism,means for operating the grippers to cause them to take the sheet from the delivery means, and means for operating the grippers to cause them to deliver the sheet to the front-delivery mechanism, substantially as described.

10. The combination with a printing-couple comprising a single-revolution cylinder and a cooperating member, of a carrier provided with grippers, means for delivering a sheet to be printed to the carrier, a front-delivery mechanism, means for operating the grippers to cause them to take the sheet from the delivering means, and means for operating the grippers to cause them to deliver the sheet .to the front-delivery mechanism, substantially as described.

11. The combination with a printing-cou- V ple comprising a single-revolution cylinder having an impression-surface, and a cooperating member, of means for presentingasheet to the cylinder to be printed, a front-delivery mechanism, a carrier provided with a set of grippers, means for operating the grippers to IIO take a sheet, means for operating the grippers to release the sheet so that it may be taken by the front-delivery mechanism, and means for operating the carrier so that the sheet will rest upon the impression-surface during the printing operation, and upon the other part of the cylinder during the delivery operation, substantially as described.

12. The combination with a printing-conple comprising a single-revolution cylinder and a cooperating member, of a front-delivery mechanism, a flexible carrier passing around the cylinder, grippers on said carrier, suitable means for supporting the carrier, means for closing the grippers to take a sheet, and means for opening the grippers so that the sheet-may be taken by the front-delivery mechanism, substantially as described.

13. The combination with a printing-couple comprising a singlerevolution cylinder having an impression-surface, and a cooperi ating member, of afront-delivery mechanism, a flexible carrier provided with grippers, a feed-board, means for closing the grippers of the carrier to take a sheet from the feedboard, means for raising the feed-board so that the carrier while holding the sheet may pass beneath it, and means for opening the grippers so that the sheet may be taken by the front-delivery mechanism, substantially as described.

14. The combination with a printing-couple comprising a single-revolution cylinder and a cooperating member, of a flexible carrier provided with three sets of grippers, said carrier passing around the cylinder, means for supporting the carrier, means for closing the grippers on one revolution of the carrier to take a sheet, and means for opening the grippers on the next revolution of the carrier so that the sheet may be delivered, and a front-delivery mechanism, substantially as described.

15. The combination with a printing-coir ple comprising a single-revolution cylinder and a cooperating member, the cylinder being provided with two gaps or openings, of a supporting-cylinder also provided with a gap or opening, a flexible carrier provided with three sets of grippers, said carrier being supported by the two cylinders, the grippers being arranged to pass into the gaps as the carrier moves around the cylinders, means for closing the grippers on one revolution of the carrier to take a sheet, means for opening the grippers on the next revolution of the carrier so that the sheet may be delivered, and a front-delivery mechanism, substantially as described.

In testimony'whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

WILLIAM SPALCKHAVER.

Witnesses:

F. W. H. CRANE, L. RoEHM. 

